Five dead after storms in France and Switzerland - flooding also in Italy
The three victims in France were found in the car on Saturday evening when a tree collapsed on the vehicle due to strong winds, stated the prefecture. Another passenger was still in critical condition. All four were in their 70s or 80s, it was reported.
In neighboring Switzerland, the rescue teams found two bodies "in connection with the landslide" in the Fontana area in the northwest of Tessin, according to a statement from the canton police on Sunday. The local newspaper "La Regione" reported that the victims were two Swiss holidaymakers.
Since Saturday afternoon, large parts of Switzerland have been hit by thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. The residents of Prato-Sornico and the Maggia Valley in Tessin were called on Sunday morning to evacuate houses near the Maggia river.
In the town of Mogno, 70 people were evacuated from a holiday camp. Camping sites along the river also had to be abandoned, according to the canton police. The flooding blocked several roads, and a bridge was carried away by the water.
In addition, a few valleys near the Maggia Valley were no longer accessible, and some areas were also cut off from the power supply. The rescue operation in the valley was made difficult due to the bad weather conditions, the police had previously reported. The army deployed several helicopters in Tessin and the affected canton of Valais in southwestern Switzerland.
According to the Swiss disaster warning service Alertswiss, parts of Tessin were without drinking water. The rescue services were also checking how they could evacuate 300 people who had come for a football tournament in the commune of Peccia.
In the canton of Valais, heavy rain and snowmelt caused the Rhone and its tributaries to overflow. According to local authorities, several hundred people had to leave their homes. The inhabitants of Raron and Gampel, as well as those in Chippis and Sierre, were particularly affected. In the famous ski resort of Zermatt in Valais, the Rhone tributary Vispa overflowed again, as shown in images on the online service X.
Due to the rain, several roads in Valais were closed, including the Simplon Pass, an important route for international traffic. Train traffic was also disrupted.
Given the risk of thunderstorms, several cantons cautiously closed their fan zones, denying thousands of Swiss football fans the opportunity to celebrate their national team's 2:0 win against Italy at the European Championship for Men. Already the previous weekend, unusual heavy rain and thunderstorms in the southeastern part of the country caused significant damage. At least one person died.
In northwest Italy, flooding and landslides occurred in Piedmont and the Aostatal. The fire department in Piedmont reported 80 rescue operations by Sunday morning. A landslide briefly blocked the access to the holiday resort of Cervinia. The flooding of a mountain stream caused flooding and severe damage in the commune.
The 1300-inhabitant village of Cogne was cut off from the outside world by mudslides. In the nearby Valnontey, the power grid and water supply failed.
- The AFP reported five dead in France due to a tree collapse during Saturday's storm, making a total of at least nine storm-related deaths in Europe.
- Police in Ticino, Switzerland, are urging residents to stay indoors as they continue their search for possible victims following the thunderstorms and landslides.
- Since Friday, Switzerland has been experiencing a series of storms, resulting in two deaths and several missing persons, according to the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Protection.
- AFP reported that in the Maggia valley, five houses have been destroyed by floods, and several cars were swept away by the storm's rapid water release.
- The Swiss Red Cross is providing emergency aid to the affected areas, including food, blankets, and medical supplies, following the heavy rainfall and floods in various parts of the country.
- The Italian region of Piedmont experienced floods and landslides, causing the closure of several roads and the evacuation of several communities due to the storm's impact.
- AFP reported that some parts of France are also experiencing heavy flooding due to the consecutive storms, with many residents forced to seek shelter at local sports centers and schools.
- The Cantonal Police in Valais, Switzerland, released a statement warning residents in the remaining villages near the fast-flowing river to be extra cautious and prepare for possible evacuation orders.
- The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) announced canceled or delayed trains due to the weather conditions and the resulting damage to railway infrastructure in several cantons.
- AFP mentioned that residents in Switzerland and neighboring countries expressed their concern on social media, sharing photos and videos of the destructive impact of the storms, hoping for a swift recovery and resumption of normalcy in affected areas.
